07.01.09

MICHAEL JACKSON

Wednesday,
July 1, 2009
Puzzle by
David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz
In an excellent wordplay tribute to
MICHAEL JACKSON (10D. With 25-Down, this puzzle’s honoree), today’s crossword gives itself over completely to the KING OF POP (47A. Nickname for 10-/25-Down). For those demanding symmetry in crosswords, it can be had with the inclusion of DIS (31D. Bad-mouth) and BYE (69A. “Farewell”) as inferences, aplenty of both in the current news. MOONWALKING (3D. Classic part of a 10-/25-Down stage act) and a FALSETTO (67A. Vocal style of 10-/25-Down, at times) were only part of a much bigger act.
THRILLER (15A. 1982 blockbuster by 10-/25-Down) headlines a selection of the artist’s works which include DANGEROUS (32A. 1991 hit album by 10-/25-Down), GONE TOO SOON (27D. Song on 32-Across), FOREVER (44D. With 10-Down, 1975 album by 10-/25-Down), and fragments of 40A. “Don’t you ASK ME for no favors” (42-Down lyric on 32-Across), SHE (11A. First word of 10-/25-Down’s “Billie Jean”) and JAM (42D. First song on 32-Across) -- LIONEL (14A. Richie who wrote “We Are the World” with 10-/25-Down) and MOTOWN (68A. First record label of 10-/25-Down) complete the visual balance of the crossword.
A hand-full of links for the remaining entries --
ALOE VERA; NEDICKS; TSETSES; SPINET; AUGHT (26A. Zero) sharing it‘s clue with NULL (52A. Zero); LEMUR; LAY (60D. Minstrel’s song).
This timely crossword can itself be called a THRILLER!
-----------------
For today’s cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.